The White House confirmed on Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a pardon to Wanda Vazquez Garced, the former Governor of Puerto Rico, who was indicted in a federal corruption case. The charges against Vazquez involved allegations of bribery tied to the financing of her 2020 campaign for governor.
A White House official characterized the legal proceedings against Vazquez as politically motivated, stating, "This entire case is an example of political prosecution." Vazquez was arrested in August 2022 in connection with these bribery charges.
In addition to pardoning Vazquez, President Trump has also extended pardons to her co-defendants, Julio Martin Herrera Velutini and Mark Rossini. This information was first reported by CBS News prior to the White House’s confirmation.
Since his inauguration last year, President Trump has issued numerous pardons, many of which have been for individuals involved in white-collar crimes or those considered allies in political contexts. This latest batch continues that pattern and contributes to ongoing discussions about the administration's approach to clemency.